The one thing Labour want more than any other is to see the back of me

Joseph Timan speaks to George Galloway 100 days since his by-election victory in Rochdale

- Joseph Timan

SITTING in his Rochdale town centre office, George Galloway has spent much of the morning dealing with 'real complications that have been developing with his party's campaign in Blackburn. Four weeks out from the general election, he is busy preparing a list of candidates to stand in seats across the country.

It's been 100 days since the 69-year-old Scotsman won the Rochdale byelection to become the town's MP. He is now hoping to be re-elected for a full five-year term on July 4 - but the Workers Party of Britain leader has grander political ambitions too.

On Tuesday, June 4, when he spoke to the M.E.N. in this extended interview, his party hoped to field 326 candidates in just over half the total seats available. "Which, therefore, notionally, means I'm running to be prime minister," he grins. "Notionally."

But with the deadline to nominate candidates having passed on Friday (June 7), the Workers Party appears to have fielded candidates in far fewer constituencies than Mr Galloway hoped for. According to Elections Map UK, the party has candidates standing in 151 seats.

In early May Mr Galloway stood outside Parliament flanked by dozens of his party's candidates, including former England cricketer Monty Panesar.

The following week, Mr Panesar pulled out, saying he needed more time to find his 'political home! Then, the snap election was called. Mr Galloway had predicted the poll would be held in May, and when it wasn't, he guessed January.

"Nobody expected this turn of events," he chuckles. "Least of all the Tory Party."

In April, Mr Galloway said the Workers Party intends to field a 'full slate' of candidates across the UK, with the exception of Northern Ireland where he believes no British political party should stand and Scotland where they will be 'lighter on the ground.'